Combination merchandise shipping package and display device



F. G. FISHER Sept. 29, 1936.

COMBINATION MERCHANDISE SHIPPING PACKAGE AND DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 193.3 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO'R 'QQIJ'c/ fa-Itri' ATTORNEYS F. G. FISHER 2,056,003 COMBINATION MERCHANDISE SHIPPING PACKAGE AND DISPLAY DEVICE Sept. 29, 1936.

Filed Aug. 25, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR fieflbf (1I f2s/ff M@ K ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 29, 1936 PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION' MERCHANDISE SHIPPING PACKAGE AND DISPLAY DEVICE Frederick George Fisher, Waban, asrsrgnor to National Folding Box Company, New Haven, Conn., a-eorporaton of Newl Jersey i Appncaiion august 25, 1933, serial No. 686,669

4 claims. (Chaos-7s) This invention relates to a combination merchandise shipping package and display device and more particularly to a display structure upon which -the merchandise may be positioned 5 during shipment and when removed from the outer container may be set up to provide an attractive display vfor the merchandise.

The merchandise shipping package and display ldevice forming the subject matter of this invenlO tion comprises generally a rack member formed from a single blank of relatively stiff paperboard material. VA plurality of pockets are suspended from andV detachably connected to the front face of the rack member. Each pocket member may l5 be'formed from a single blank of paperboard material comprising a front Wall, rear wall, side walls `and a supporting bottom wall; The merchandiseto be displayed is inserted into the pockets and suitably arranged in an attractive manner therein. Each pocket is provided with a pair of hook portions which may be inserted through spaced slotsl provided in the rack mem-4 ber. The hook portions are provided with hooks at the ends thereof which may be detachably con-Vv nectedvtogether on the rear face of thecard. A collapsible easel attached to the rear face of the rack' member, is also preferably provided. 'The easel comprises a pair'of collapsible wings which maybe folded fiat against the' rack member during shipment.A The wings may Vbe expanded out-v wardly andheld inset up condition by la slotted tube portion operative to 3 detachably -interlock with the VWings when folded in set up position.

The merchandise is arranged within the pook-- ets by the merchandise'manufacturer and Ain this manner the manufacturer lis assured thatV his merchandise Vvvillfbe displayed in the'most effective'manner by the storekeeper. A large variety of different objects maybe eifectively displayed' 40 in this manner. ElongatedY articles, such las pencils, crayons, pens, toothbrushes, toilet articlesl and dispensing tubes' are especially adapted forshipment 'and display in 'mycoinbination ship- A ping' package andfdisplay device. Guard fmem bers,'comprising` a single stripofwpaperboardmaterial arranged around the merchandise, maybe provided to insure additional protection to ther associated pockets loaded with merchandise. The T guardsmay beoflsuicient depth to provide ad'- the merchandise is mounted is inserted into the ditional reinforcement to the container during shipment. g g

An object of this invention is to provide a combination merchandise package and shipping device which may be shipped to the merchandise manufacturer in collapsed condition, which may be easily and quickly lled with merchandise arranged in an attractive manner, and which may be removed from the outer container and set up by the storekeeper so as to provide an attractive l0 and pleasing display for the merchandise.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display device formed from single blanks of paperboard material which can be made'entirely by automatic machinery, which may be stored in l5 collapsed condition soas to occupy a minimum of space, and which may be easily and quickly assembled by the manufacturer vto receive the merchandise without the use of machinery or tools. 1 Y

Another object of this vinvention is to provide a displaydevice comprising a rack member having merchandise receiving pockets attractively arranged and detachably connected thereto.

Still another object of this invention is to pro- 25 vide a display device comprising a rackmember, merchandise receiving pockets and a collapsible supporting easel, all of which may be formed from paperboard material by machine operation, which is furthermore economical to manufacture, which 30 is flexible and is-adapted for the display of many different kinds of merchandise, which occupies a minimum'of space, which may be easily and quickly set up by the storekeeper, and from which the merchandise may be conveniently dispensed 35 when sold. f

Other objects of this invention ,will become apparent as the vdisclosure proceeds.

Although the novel features Which are believed to. be characteristic of this invention will be par- 4 ticularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto,'the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the mannerin which it may be carried out, mayv be better understood by referringto the following description taken in con- 45 nection with the accompanyingdrawings forming a part thereof, in which f Fig. 1 is aiface view of a paperboard'blank which comprises the rackvmember of the display device; Y 50 ilig. 2 is a face View of the supporting easel in expanded position ready to be attached to the rack member; Y f Fig. 3 .is a blank from which `the merchandise receivingpocket'is made; y 55 display device loaded with merchandise packed therein Fig. '7 is an enlarged perspective view of an article of merchandise surrounded by the guard member used to protect the merchandise during shipment and storage; f

Fig. 8 is an interior perspective view of the pocket forming blank shown in Fig. 3 in the process of folding and assembly;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the completed pocket formed from the blanks shown in Figs. 3

and 8; and

Fig. 10 is a rear perspective view of the display device showing particularly the means for detachably securing the pockets to the rack member and,` the construction of the collapsible easel.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and specification.

There is shown in Fig. l the rack member A which is formed from a single blank of relatively stii paperboard material. The blank may be formed into a number of attractive shapes and may be decorated on the front face thereof to provide an attractive background Vfor the merchandise mounted thereon.

The merchandise is arranged in suitable pockets formed from the blank C shown in Fig. 3. Each pocket comprises a rear wall l a front wall 2 and side walls 3 dened by score lines 5. The blank C is bent into tubular form and held in this position by a securing tab 4 glued or other wise secured to the side wall 3. A bottom Wall 6 hinged to the front wall 2 along the score line 8 is provided with a ap 1 which is inserted into the pocket to rest along the rear wall l. Bottom tabs 9 extend inwardly from each of the side walls 3 and complete the vbottom structure. It is seen that a pocket member comprising rear wall l, front wall 2, side walls 3, bottom wall 6, and an open top is thus provided.

Any desired number of pockets may be attractively arranged on the frontface of the rack member. For the purpose of illustration, there is shown in Fig. 4 pockets C mounted on the rack member A. The pockets are secured in position by means of hook portions ll and l2 which. extend from the opposite ends of the rear wall l of the pocket forming blank C. Spaced slots are provided in the rack member A to receive the hook portions Il and l2, the hook portion Il being inserted into the slot 2l and the hookportion I2 into the slot 22. The hooked ends I3 and I4 of the hook portions Il and l2 respectively are connected together on the rear face of the rack member in the manner shown more particularly in Fig. 10.

To maintain the rack member A, with the pockets C mounted thereon, in set up display condition, a collapsible easel formed from a blank B, shown more particularly in Fig. 2, is provided. The easel comprises a wall portion 32 which is glued or otherwise secured to the rear face of the rack member A. Side wings 3l hinged to the rear wall 32 normally lay flat against the rear face of the rack member when in collapsed condition. The wings 3l, however, are adapted to be bent at right angles to the rear wall 32 so as to provide brace supports for the rack member when in display position, as shown more particularly in Fig. 10. The wing portions 3| are held in display position by means of a lock portion 34 which is cut out from the blank B along the cutout lines 35, 36, and 40, as shown in Fig. 2. The lock portion 34 is adapted to hinge outwardly along the score line 3l and is provided with a 'p'air of cuts or slots 3B which are adapted to receive the inside edge 40 of the wing member 3l to maintain the wings in fixed set up position. The bottom edge 39 of the Wing portions 3l may be cut at an angle so as to support the rack member A in a slightly inclined position, vas shown in Fig. 10. The easel B is thus formed from a singlegblank of paperboard material by a simple cutting and scoring operation.

The rack member A is preferably formed of relatively stii paperboard material which will carry considerable weight without buckling. The blank A is also formed by means of a simple cutting operation. The pocket members C are also formed complete by a single cutting and scoring operation performed by automatic machinery. The entire assembly can thus be economically made entirely by machine operation.

The display device may be shipped and stored by the merchandise manufacturer in complete collapsed condition. The easel B is collapsed against the rear wall of the rack member A and the pockets C shipped and stored in the form of a collapsed tube, either attached to or free from the rack member A as desired. The merchandise manufacturer sets up the pockets by the simple operation of closing the bottom wall 6 which comprises turning the side wall tabs inwardly and inserting the bottom Wall flap l into the tubular pocket. The merchandise is then arranged in an attractive manner within the pockets. An opening l may be provided in the front wall 2 of the pocket if desired to provide a decorative eiect and in addition to provide a more complete view of the merchandise M positioned therein.

When the pockets C supported on the rack member A have been fully loaded with merchandise, a guard member E formed from a continuous strip of relatively stiff paperboard material comprising end walls 42 and 43, and side walls 4| is so shaped as to snugly t around each pocket and the merchandise positioned therein. The end wall 43 of theguard may be glued or otherwise secured to the top portion 44 to form a continuous member, if desired. The display device having the guard members E positioned thereon is then inserted into an outer container D into which it snugly fits. The outer container D may be closed by a suitable top wall l, inturned tabs 52 and an inturned iiap 53. VThe guard member E is of suflcient depth to substantially span the space between the rack member A and the side wall of the outer container. The guard member E thus serves the additional purpose of bracing and Vreinforcing the outercontainer against inward collapse during shipment and storage. The guard E also performs the important function of retaining the merchandise locked against removal within the pocket during shipment and storage of the package.

V,Merchandise may be shipped and stored in the outer container D which fully protects the contents at all times. When the storekeepe desires the merchandise for displayor sale. the rack member A carrying the pockets C loaded with merchandise is removed from the outer container D and the guard members E lifted oi. The easel B is then set up by swinging the wing portion 3l at substantially right angles to the rear wall portion 32. The locking portion 34 is then swung into horizontal position into locking engagement with the wing portions 3l. The display device is thus completely set up and no adjustment or arrangement of the merchandise supported thereon is required. In this manner the merchandise manufacturer is assured that his merchandise will be displayed in the most attractive manner by the storekeeper and will be suitably advertised by the printed matter carried on the front face of the rack member A and associated pockets C. The combination shipping package and display device is adapted for use in connection with a large variety of merchandizable articles. It is especially adapted to receive and display elongated articles in packages such as toothbrushes, toilet articles, pencils, crayons, pens, dispensing tubes, tools, hardware supplies and household fixtures of various kinds. The whole maybe economically made entirely by machine operation and provides a convenient and attactive means for merchandising the articles displayed. The guard E insures retention of the merchandise in the pocket during shipment and storage. The pocket as Well as the goods is firmly retained in position during shipment and storage. Further the pocket and its contents cannot be easily pilfered or removed from the rack.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed, is:

1. A merchandise display device including in combination, a rack member formed from a relatively stiff blank of paperboard material, a plurality of merchandise receiving pockets, each pocket comprising a front Wall, a rear wall, side walls and supporting bottom wall formed from a single blank of paperboard material, a pair of hook members extending from each of said pockets, and a plurality of paired slots in said rack member, each pair of slots adapted to receive a pair of hook members, the end of said paired hook members being detachably connected together to support the pocket in display position on the rack member, and a collapsible easel operative to support said rack member in display position. Y

2. A merchandise display device including in combination, a rack member formed from a single blank of relatively stiff paperboard material, a merchandise receiving pocket comprising a front wall, a rear wall, side walls and a bottom wall, hook portions extending from the pocket to the rack member, and a collapsible easel constituting means to support said rack member in display position. Y

3. A merchandise display device including in combination, a rack member formed from a single blank of paperboard material, a merchandise receiving pocket comprising a front wall, a rear Wall, and side Walls, hook members integral with and extending from certain of said walls and extending through slots in the face of the rack member and detachably interlocked on the back thereof to support the pocket in display position thereon.

4. A merchandise display device including in combination, a rack member formed from a single blank of paperboard material, a merchandise receiving pocket comprising a front wall, a rear wall, side walls and a bottom wall, hook portions extending from the pocket for detachably connecting the pocket to the rack member, and a collapsible easel detachably secured to the rack member operative to support said rack member in display position.

FREDERICK GEORGE FISHER. 

